Southeast Texas Land: The Foundation of Future Growth

Commercial real estate includes many sectors office, industrial, retail, and multifamily but they all share one essential component: land. Often overlooked, undeveloped land whether raw acreage, vacant tracts, or infill lots is fast becoming one of the strongest wealth-building investments in the country.

Land is having a moment in commercial real estate, and the 2025 Trend Report from Coldwell Banker Commercial^® lays it all out. Whether it’s raw acreage or infill lots, land is proving to be a smart, long-term play in today’s market.

Here's a summary of Land and how it relates to commercial real estate.

The U.S. Land Landscape

• America has 2.26 billion acres of land, including 1.2 billion acres used for agriculture.

• With limited new supply, undeveloped land has become increasingly valuable.

• Zoning reforms are also opening doors for new development, especially in urban areas where mixed use and transit-oriented projects are gaining traction. 

• Farmland is booming with rising values and high-profile investors jumping in.

• Two major sellers are shaping today’s land market:

  1. Baby Boomers, who are entering retirement and liquidating property assets as part of estate planning fueling the largest wealth transfer in U.S. history, projected to continue through 2045.

  2. Government entities, the largest landowners in the U.S., periodically selling off parcels or repurposing holdings for private use and development.

These factors create a unique window for investors and developers ready to acquire and transform underutilized land. Southeast Texas is a sweet spot, particularly the Golden Triangle and surrounding counties near the Louisiana border. This area is quietly becoming one of the state’s most dynamic industrial growth zones.

Industrial Expansion & Infrastructure

• $60+ billion in approved or active petrochemical and energy projects across Jefferson and Orange Counties.

• Chevron Phillips Chemical’s $8.5 billion Golden Triangle Polymers complex in Orange is catalyzing new commercial, housing, and supply-chain opportunities.

• The Ports of Beaumont and Port Arthur continue to rank among the nation’s busiest for industrial cargo.

• Interstate 10 and regional rail networks enhance connectivity for logistics and heavy manufacturing.

• County EDCs in Liberty, Hardin, and Jasper offer tax incentives, workforce programs, and infrastructure grants for new business investment.

  
  

For Landowners

Industrial and infrastructure growth is pushing development outward. If you own acreage in Southeast Texas, you may be sitting on an asset that’s about to appreciate. Partnering with a commercial real estate advisor ensures your property is positioned to capture demand whether selling, leasing, or developing.

For Investors

They’re not making any more land, and Southeast Texas has the right mix of industrial expansion, logistics advantages, and available acreage to drive long-term returns. Undeveloped tracts today could be tomorrow’s industrial park, distribution hub, or mixed-use development.

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Forging new paths in Southeast Texas commercial real estate from the ground up.